Week of 1/29/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 1/29/18
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 17 - Words with the Suffix "-tion"
This week's list includes words with the suffix "-tion". Students will learn that when the suffix "-tion" is added to a verb, the word becomes a noun. When "-tion" is added to a word that ends in an "e" or "t", the "e" or "t" is dropped. The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 2/2

Reading - Unit 1 - Profile in Courage Culminating Project
Students will present their Profile in Courage projects on 1/30 and 1/31. Please refer to the rubric to see how they will be assessed. They will also receive a Time for Kids magazine that they are to read independently in preparation for a comprehension QUIZ on 2/5. 

Social Studies - Badlands of South Dakota / Bountiful Midwest Farms

Our focus in Social Studies this week will shift to the economy of the Midwest. Students will discover how and why the crops grown in the Central Plains are different from those that are grown in the Great Plains.

Science - How do the Behaviors of Animals Help Them Meet Their Needs?

Behavioral adaptations and looking at how animals change over time are our topics in Science. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals

Our study of the standard algorithm for double-digit multiplication will continue at the beginning of the week. Below is a model that demonstrates WHY the algorithm works the way it does. I love this lesson because Bridges requires that students go beyond memorization to learn this concept. Ask your child to explain the algorithm and how partial products work.

FYI...
2/1 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00

Congratulations to Greta & Aubrey who represented our class in the fourth-grade spelling bee. We are all so proud of both of you!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 1/22/18

Highlights for the Week of 1/22/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 16 - Greek Roots
This week's list includes words with the Greek Roots micro, mega, hydro, astro, hydra and path. Students will study the meaning of these roots and words that contain them. The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 1/26.

ELA / Reading - Unit 1 - Profile in Courage Culminating Project
Students will begin the research and the slideshow for the Profile in Courage project. They will be given time in class to work, however, they should expect to also work on it at home. The tentative due date for the slideshow is Tuesday, 1/30. Presentations will begin that day.

Social Studies - "The Badlands of South Dakota"
Our focus in Social Studies will be on the geography of the Midwest. We will study how the Badlands were formed and also brush up on our map skills. 

Science - "How Do the Behaviors of Animals Help Them Meet their Needs?
Students will take a QUIZ on chapter 3, lesson 1 on Tuesday, 1/23. We will finish the week with a look at the behavioral adaptations of animals. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals
A multiplication and division CHECKPOINT (QUIZ) is scheduled for Monday, 1/22. Students should review the strategies that we have learned to prepare for the quiz. These strategies are in their math spirals and workbook pages. Our next stop will be practicing the standard algorithm for multiplication.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 1/15/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 1/15/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 16 - Greek Roots
This week's list includes words with the Greek Roots micro, mega, hydro, astro, hydra and path. Students will study the meaning of these roots and words that contain them. The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 1/19.

ELA / Reading - Unit 1 - Lou Gehrig

Students will take the comprehension and vocabulary QUIZ for Lou Gehrig on Thursday, 1/18. The comprehension portion of the quiz will be open book. Students should review the word work on Google Classroom and the text-dependent questions from the story to help them prepare for the quiz. 

We will also close read Gehrig's farewell speech. 

I will introduce the culminating project for the courage unit, titled "Profile in Courage". Your child will research a historical figure who showed courage, create a slide presentation that will be turned into a "flip" book and present his/her project to the class. Step 1 will be to choose a person from a list that will be sent home on Wednesday, 1/17. 

Social Studies - The Midwest - "A Route to the Sea"
We will also how the waterways of the midwest sustain the region. Mapmaker, mapmaker, make me a map...below are some photos of students creating their Midwest maps:

Science - Adaptations
Physical and behavioral adaptations will be our focus this week. Below are photos of our classroom scientists investigating why birds' beaks are shaped differently. Ask your child what he/she learned from this activity.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals

This week in math we will focus on multiplication relationships, fractions as operators and the over/under strategy. Be sure to ask your child to describe the multiplication strategies that we have learned so far in Unit 4. The first checkpoint for Unit 4 is tentatively scheduled for 1/22.

Since the beginning of the school year, I have highly encouraged (and sometimes begged) students to show their work on math assignments.  This week, my mathematicians impressed me by demonstrating how they showed their work on a homework assignment. Here is a photo that shows "teacher"  Jonas with work that was shared by his "students"...

It's all about the "baby steps"!

FYI...

1/15 - No School - Martin Luther King Day.

Students in fourth grade will take the math MAP test in their math classroom on Wednesday, 1/17. Please see that your child comes to school well rested and with a fully charged Chromebook on those days. Thank you!

Mrs. Karen Bell